When the planet says no: Are we listening? | Margaret Milner | TEDxMacEwanU

when was the last time your body said no

when was the last time your body said no to you how do our bodies communicate

to you how do our bodies communicate

to you how do our bodies communicate with us to give us messages that things

with us to give us messages that things

with us to give us messages that things aren’t quite right

aren’t quite right

aren’t quite right this happened to me a couple of years

this happened to me a couple of years

this happened to me a couple of years ago oftentimes we have small little

ago oftentimes we have small little

ago oftentimes we have small little symptoms little signals that things

symptoms little signals that things

symptoms little signals that things aren’t quite right

aren’t quite right

aren’t quite right but many years a couple years ago I had

but many years a couple years ago I had

but many years a couple years ago I had an experience that was different than

an experience that was different than

an experience that was different than all the other times so what happened was

all the other times so what happened was

all the other times so what happened was I’m a fairly busy person as an academic

I’m a fairly busy person as an academic

I’m a fairly busy person as an academic and I have lots of things to do

and I have lots of things to do

and I have lots of things to do preparing for classes teaching marking

preparing for classes teaching marking

preparing for classes teaching marking presenting doing all of these things and

presenting doing all of these things and

presenting doing all of these things and so I had had a little boat of

so I had had a little boat of

so I had had a little boat of indigestion

indigestion

indigestion and which I promptly ignored and thought

and which I promptly ignored and thought

and which I promptly ignored and thought it would just go away but then one night

it would just go away but then one night

it would just go away but then one night when I was at home I had a fire raging

when I was at home I had a fire raging

when I was at home I had a fire raging in my chest right here in the center and

in my chest right here in the center and

in my chest right here in the center and as a nursing professor it suddenly

as a nursing professor it suddenly

as a nursing professor it suddenly dawned on me what if I’m having a heart

dawned on me what if I’m having a heart

dawned on me what if I’m having a heart attack

attack

attack so my husband wasn’t home and so I

so my husband wasn’t home and so I

so my husband wasn’t home and so I called my daughter and my son-in-law to

called my daughter and my son-in-law to

called my daughter and my son-in-law to come and take me to the emergency room

come and take me to the emergency room

come and take me to the emergency room and after a long night of blood tests

and after a long night of blood tests

and after a long night of blood tests and x-rays and ECGs and the odd little

and x-rays and ECGs and the odd little

and x-rays and ECGs and the odd little note to my daughter about my criticisms

note to my daughter about my criticisms

note to my daughter about my criticisms of the nursing care I was being received

of the nursing care I was being received

of the nursing care I was being received I much to her horror I was sent home

I much to her horror I was sent home

I much to her horror I was sent home with a diagnosis of gastric reflux

with a diagnosis of gastric reflux

with a diagnosis of gastric reflux disease so I took a couple of days off

disease so I took a couple of days off

disease so I took a couple of days off work and I went to see my family doctor

work and I went to see my family doctor

work and I went to see my family doctor and I slunk over to see my acupuncturist

and I slunk over to see my acupuncturist

and I slunk over to see my acupuncturist who gave me a very firm talking-to about

who gave me a very firm talking-to about

who gave me a very firm talking-to about how this way I’m living my life is

how this way I’m living my life is

how this way I’m living my life is really not in my best interest so the

really not in my best interest so the

really not in my best interest so the title of my talk is actually borrowed

title of my talk is actually borrowed

title of my talk is actually borrowed from a book and it’s written by Gabor

from a book and it’s written by Gabor

from a book and it’s written by Gabor maté a and it was called when the body

maté a and it was called when the body

maté a and it was called when the body says no the cost of hidden stress

says no the cost of hidden stress

says no the cost of hidden stress so what GABA r’mante talks about in his

so what GABA r’mante talks about in his

so what GABA r’mante talks about in his book is the idea of the mind-body

book is the idea of the mind-body

book is the idea of the mind-body connection and its relationship to the

connection and its relationship to the

connection and its relationship to the development of disease and illness in

development of disease and illness in

development of disease and illness in humans and my episode of indigestion is

humans and my episode of indigestion is

humans and my episode of indigestion is a perfect perfect example of that

a perfect perfect example of that

a perfect perfect example of that and so what amazes me is the human body

and so what amazes me is the human body

and so what amazes me is the human body as a nurse I’ve always been fascinated

as a nurse I’ve always been fascinated

as a nurse I’ve always been fascinated by the resilience of the human body

by the resilience of the human body

by the resilience of the human body think about your beating hearts I think

think about your beating hearts I think

think about your beating hearts I think mine’s probably beating a lot harder

mine’s probably beating a lot harder

mine’s probably beating a lot harder than yours right now but our breathing

than yours right now but our breathing

than yours right now but our breathing our digestive system our immune systems

our digestive system our immune systems

our digestive system our immune systems all of these things function inside of

all of these things function inside of

all of these things function inside of us without any conscious awareness at

us without any conscious awareness at

us without any conscious awareness at all and so in thinking about that and

all and so in thinking about that and

all and so in thinking about that and thinking about how the body communicates

thinking about how the body communicates

thinking about how the body communicates to us and gabbro matys work I started

to us and gabbro matys work I started

to us and gabbro matys work I started thinking about balance and this idea

thinking about balance and this idea

thinking about balance and this idea that our bodies are always in a state of

that our bodies are always in a state of

that our bodies are always in a state of trying to achieve balance or homeostasis

trying to achieve balance or homeostasis

trying to achieve balance or homeostasis as we call it in in health care balance

as we call it in in health care balance

as we call it in in health care balance is also reflected in ancient Chinese

is also reflected in ancient Chinese

is also reflected in ancient Chinese philosophy and and it’s encompassed in

philosophy and and it’s encompassed in

philosophy and and it’s encompassed in traditional Chinese medicine so yin and

traditional Chinese medicine so yin and

traditional Chinese medicine so yin and yang

yang

yang are the I energy forces they are

are the I energy forces they are

are the I energy forces they are opposite but complementary and they

opposite but complementary and they

opposite but complementary and they encompass all that’s in nature so as a

encompass all that’s in nature so as a

encompass all that’s in nature so as a consequence of that trying to achieve

consequence of that trying to achieve

consequence of that trying to achieve balance is something that everything and

balance is something that everything and

balance is something that everything and everyone is always trying to do we are

everyone is always trying to do we are

everyone is always trying to do we are in a constant state of change there is

in a constant state of change there is

in a constant state of change there is actually no such thing as homeostasis

actually no such thing as homeostasis

actually no such thing as homeostasis because we are always adapting to the

because we are always adapting to the

because we are always adapting to the assaults we put on our bodies so if we

assaults we put on our bodies so if we

assaults we put on our bodies so if we were to think about this and think about

were to think about this and think about

were to think about this and think about ourselves as microcosms as reflections

ourselves as microcosms as reflections

ourselves as microcosms as reflections of Mother Earth the planet

of Mother Earth the planet

of Mother Earth the planet she too cries out for help just like we

she too cries out for help just like we

she too cries out for help just like we do so in thinking about that I’m I’m

do so in thinking about that I’m I’m

do so in thinking about that I’m I’m always aware of the fact that you know

always aware of the fact that you know

always aware of the fact that you know there are many things that mother earth

there are many things that mother earth

there are many things that mother earth cries about and so some of those are

cries about and so some of those are

cries about and so some of those are things like the torrential rainstorms we

things like the torrential rainstorms we

things like the torrential rainstorms we experienced hurricanes mudslides

experienced hurricanes mudslides

experienced hurricanes mudslides wildfires all these things that are

wildfires all these things that are

wildfires all these things that are happening in the earth all signals of

happening in the earth all signals of

happening in the earth all signals of climate change so Mother Earth is

climate change so Mother Earth is

climate change so Mother Earth is calling out to us and asking us for help

calling out to us and asking us for help

calling out to us and asking us for help so you can see from this image I love

so you can see from this image I love

so you can see from this image I love this with the arms reaching out from the

this with the arms reaching out from the

this with the arms reaching out from the earth and this idea that she is calling

earth and this idea that she is calling

earth and this idea that she is calling and saying what are you doing so when I

and saying what are you doing so when I

and saying what are you doing so when I think about human beings it’s just so

think about human beings it’s just so

think about human beings it’s just so interesting about them here they are the

interesting about them here they are the

interesting about them here they are the most evolved species on the planet

most evolved species on the planet

most evolved species on the planet and still we pursue this relentless I

and still we pursue this relentless I

and still we pursue this relentless I you know idea of unparalleled growth

you know idea of unparalleled growth

you know idea of unparalleled growth that we think we can just keep going and

that we think we can just keep going and

that we think we can just keep going and going and as I was thinking about this I

going and as I was thinking about this I

going and as I was thinking about this I was thinking myself wait a minute you

was thinking myself wait a minute you

was thinking myself wait a minute you know mother earth can take care of

know mother earth can take care of

know mother earth can take care of herself she is a highly more evolved and

herself she is a highly more evolved and

herself she is a highly more evolved and complex thing than we are and so in

complex thing than we are and so in

complex thing than we are and so in actual fact it’s not the planet we need

actual fact it’s not the planet we need

actual fact it’s not the planet we need to worry about it’s ash

to worry about it’s ash

to worry about it’s ash us we are the ones that need to be

us we are the ones that need to be

us we are the ones that need to be worried because we’re the ones that are

worried because we’re the ones that are

worried because we’re the ones that are in the state that we’re in now that we

in the state that we’re in now that we

in the state that we’re in now that we are actually destroying the planet and

are actually destroying the planet and

are actually destroying the planet and Mother Earth will take care of us in

Mother Earth will take care of us in

Mother Earth will take care of us in some way to correct the balance I don’t

some way to correct the balance I don’t

some way to correct the balance I don’t know how that’s going to happen I don’t

know how that’s going to happen I don’t

know how that’s going to happen I don’t even really want to think about that but

even really want to think about that but

even really want to think about that but but the idea is is it’s true and it’s

but the idea is is it’s true and it’s

but the idea is is it’s true and it’s there so I don’t I don’t want to get

there so I don’t I don’t want to get

there so I don’t I don’t want to get depressed or you know more morbid about

depressed or you know more morbid about

depressed or you know more morbid about this but the idea is is that I sometimes

this but the idea is is that I sometimes

this but the idea is is that I sometimes get really concerned about how youth is

get really concerned about how youth is

get really concerned about how youth is becoming very overwhelmed with the idea

becoming very overwhelmed with the idea

becoming very overwhelmed with the idea that perhaps have gone past the point of

that perhaps have gone past the point of

that perhaps have gone past the point of no return

no return

no return so I teach a course in sustainability

so I teach a course in sustainability

so I teach a course in sustainability here at McEwen and this is one of the

here at McEwen and this is one of the

here at McEwen and this is one of the authors who read his name is Chris

authors who read his name is Chris

authors who read his name is Chris Turner and he wrote a book called the

Turner and he wrote a book called the

Turner and he wrote a book called the geography of hope though tour a tour of

geography of hope though tour a tour of

geography of hope though tour a tour of the world we need and he has a prologue

the world we need and he has a prologue

the world we need and he has a prologue and in that prologue he says what would

and in that prologue he says what would

and in that prologue he says what would it be like to be part of the greatest

it be like to be part of the greatest

it be like to be part of the greatest project in the history of human

project in the history of human

project in the history of human civilization to be part of the

civilization to be part of the

civilization to be part of the generation that beat climate change I

generation that beat climate change I

generation that beat climate change I thought oh yeah there’s more inside of

thought oh yeah there’s more inside of

thought oh yeah there’s more inside of that that prologue but I go back and

that that prologue but I go back and

that that prologue but I go back and read it occasionally when I feel

read it occasionally when I feel

read it occasionally when I feel discouraged because he succeeds he gives

discouraged because he succeeds he gives

discouraged because he succeeds he gives me hope I have a grandmother and I watch

me hope I have a grandmother and I watch

me hope I have a grandmother and I watch my grandchildren and there’s so much in

my grandchildren and there’s so much in

my grandchildren and there’s so much in this world to enjoy so I want to leave

this world to enjoy so I want to leave

this world to enjoy so I want to leave with some ideas about ways that we can

with some ideas about ways that we can

with some ideas about ways that we can move forward in higher education because

move forward in higher education because

move forward in higher education because that’s where her housed right now and

that’s where her housed right now and

that’s where her housed right now and one of them is to engage in the

one of them is to engage in the

one of them is to engage in the humanities we need to restore balance

humanities we need to restore balance

humanities we need to restore balance between the science and technology and

between the science and technology and

between the science and technology and humanities so I think about reading

humanities so I think about reading

humanities so I think about reading reading deeply sharing your ideas with

reading deeply sharing your ideas with

reading deeply sharing your ideas with others listening to music that stirs the

others listening to music that stirs the

others listening to music that stirs the soul i viewing films or theater

soul i viewing films or theater

soul i viewing films or theater raise awareness and wake you up and wake

raise awareness and wake you up and wake

raise awareness and wake you up and wake up your emotions so the humanities are

up your emotions so the humanities are

up your emotions so the humanities are actually a window into how beautiful the

actually a window into how beautiful the

actually a window into how beautiful the world is and the things that we can

world is and the things that we can

world is and the things that we can appreciate about it and it’s also the

appreciate about it and it’s also the

appreciate about it and it’s also the key to living virtuously a second thing

key to living virtuously a second thing

key to living virtuously a second thing I want you to think about is enveloping

I want you to think about is enveloping

I want you to think about is enveloping yourself in nature nature has so much to

yourself in nature nature has so much to

yourself in nature nature has so much to teach us

teach us

teach us so being outside looking around and

so being outside looking around and

so being outside looking around and noticing things taking out the earbuds

noticing things taking out the earbuds

noticing things taking out the earbuds and actually listening to the birds and

and actually listening to the birds and

and actually listening to the birds and the things around you and your outside I

the things around you and your outside I

the things around you and your outside I started experimenting with this a little

started experimenting with this a little

started experimenting with this a little bit and it’s phenomenal what I actually

bit and it’s phenomenal what I actually

bit and it’s phenomenal what I actually see in here when I’m really paying

see in here when I’m really paying

see in here when I’m really paying attention so mother nature can teach us

attention so mother nature can teach us

attention so mother nature can teach us so many things the other part of this is

so many things the other part of this is

so many things the other part of this is that our indigenous knowledge keepers

that our indigenous knowledge keepers

that our indigenous knowledge keepers they are they have so much wisdom to

they are they have so much wisdom to

they are they have so much wisdom to give us about living in harmony with

give us about living in harmony with

give us about living in harmony with nature inspiring growth is so important

nature inspiring growth is so important

nature inspiring growth is so important not only in ourselves but in others so

not only in ourselves but in others so

not only in ourselves but in others so when I think about this I think about

when I think about this I think about

when I think about this I think about noticing the beauty in people and

noticing the beauty in people and

noticing the beauty in people and thinking about the fact that it’s

thinking about the fact that it’s

thinking about the fact that it’s important to tell them that they’re

important to tell them that they’re

important to tell them that they’re beautiful and I also think about

beautiful and I also think about

beautiful and I also think about inspiring growth by nurturing children

inspiring growth by nurturing children

inspiring growth by nurturing children children are our future and they are

children are our future and they are

children are our future and they are such amazing human beings so watching

such amazing human beings so watching

such amazing human beings so watching them noticing and of course grow some

them noticing and of course grow some

them noticing and of course grow some beats and finally and most importantly

beats and finally and most importantly

beats and finally and most importantly we need to shift our gaze inward to see

we need to shift our gaze inward to see

we need to shift our gaze inward to see out so in doing that we raise

out so in doing that we raise

out so in doing that we raise consciousness because consciousness is

consciousness because consciousness is

consciousness because consciousness is just nature living through us so praise

just nature living through us so praise

just nature living through us so praise more judge less

more judge less

more judge less forgive yourselves and each other let go

forgive yourselves and each other let go

forgive yourselves and each other let go of the things that are not serving you

of the things that are not serving you

of the things that are not serving you well anymore these are all ways that we

well anymore these are all ways that we

well anymore these are all ways that we can transform ourselves and in doing so

can transform ourselves and in doing so

can transform ourselves and in doing so transform the planet you know my mother

transform the planet you know my mother

transform the planet you know my mother always told me that I should listen when

always told me that I should listen when

always told me that I should listen when I was growing up so perk up your ears

I was growing up so perk up your ears

I was growing up so perk up your ears mother nature’s calling there’s work to

mother nature’s calling there’s work to

mother nature’s calling there’s work to be done thank you

be done thank you

be done thank you [Applause]